USMC Sargeant Stubby, hero and veteran of WWI courtesy of the US National Archives.

In 1916 the United States was deep in a conflict that changed the world. A time of innocence and
idealism would collapse in the face of WWI. As areas of sporting events, education and otherwise
peaceful intentions were pressed into service by the military, a group of students participated in
military training in Yale Field and were joined by a charming, happy Bull Terrier, one we would quickly
identify as a Pit Bull today. Stubby, as he came to be known for his chunky body and good sense of
humor, was an endearing mascot and treasured companion, so when the young men were
reassigned to Newport News for final training before deployment, they couldn't abandon him.

While most of the troops would be in vehicles for mass transport that wouldn't hide a dog effectively,
Corporal J. Conroy would be traveling in a supply car. This provided a real option for hiding the dog
and bringing him with them. Corporal Conroy initially declined then the savvy soldiers introduced
Stubby to him. His resistence melted in the face of Stubby's kisses. Thus began a friendship that
would serve both Corp Conroy, the company of soldiers and Stubby for the duration of the War.

From Newport News, Stubby was smuggled to Europe with his friends, this required the complicity
of others since the US did not have a military dog program at the time and if they had, Stubby had
not been trained for duty so it is questionable that he would have been included.

Trained or not, Stubby made himself of immense service. It is difficult to say how many soldiers
returned home due to his alerts over gas attacks (he could smell the gas in time for the soldiers to
get their masks on) or when he identified and captured (by the seat of his pants, no less) a German
spy. Stubby didn't always benefit from his actions though. He was seriously poisoned by gas at least
once (none of the gas masks could be fitted for him) and nearly killed by a grenade (but instead
recovered and rejoined his fellow troops). He even saved a young girl while in Paris. Stubby suddenly
bolted from Conroy's side and knocked a girl away from a street corner, out of the path of a
careening car. While they were grazed by the car, neither was seriously hurt.

The people of France were enamored with Stubby, his loving attitude which hadn't changed since his
days training with the soldiers in Yale Field, and his heroism. The ladies of a French town near where
they were stationed fashioned a special coat for Stubby that could display his many awards, medals
and commendations. One of those would have been his honorary title of Sargeant in the United
States Marine Corps.

USMC Sargeant Stubby with his many medals, commendations courtesy of the US National Archives.

Despite his heroism and bravery, Stubby somehow managed to retire from his unofficial military
service in 1919. After 18 months in the European front, it would seem that the excitement was over.
But no one asked Stubby! When Corporal Conroy attended Georgetown University Law School,
Stubby became the unofficial Hoya mascot. His antics of playing with the football not only served to
be entertaining but initiated a line of canine mascots to follow and is even credited with beginning the
half time show. Stubby still found time to be received by not one but two Presidents (he'd met
President Wilson during the War and offered his well known salute to Wilson's delight), Calvin Coolidge
and Warren Harding at the White House. He led many parades and attended military conventions and
conferences.

Corporal Conroy perhaps uttered the most telling and accurate quote regarding his friend when he
was nearly denied service at the Grand Majestic Hotel in New York City because they wouldn't accept
the dog. With a grumble that might have been worthy of Stubby facing a German spy, Corporal
Conroy is reported to have said "This is no dog. This is a war hero!" Stubby was then received and
signed the guestbook with a pawprint. Stubby was more than a military dog or war dog as
demonstrated by the full review of his life, he was an envoy and an ambassador both for dogs and
the United States Military. For those people who had suffered at the hands of a conquering power,
the sense of relief was made all the more real when the invaders were repelled by a friendly force who
came forth with a dog offering kisses.

In 1926, after a life worthy of several movies, Stubby died. His remains were preserved and are still
maintained (along with his "uniform" made by the French ladies and his medals) by the Smithsonian
Institution of Washington, DC. Currently he is on loan to the State of Connecticut.

Stubby was extraordinary but he was not outside the potential of many dogs of his heritage. The Pit
Bull, Bull Terrier and similar breeds were the result of breeding by farmers to produce an exceptional
all around dog. These dogs were nannies and playmates to the children, protectors of the farm,
assistants to the farmer in duties as wide ranging as herding to rat killing to carrying money back from
the market. This demanded a dog of uncommon intuition and judgement, affability, desire to be
around people and clearly, intelligence. It is important in an age when those characteristics can be
just as easily distorted by unethical people, to realize that the nature of the dog is not the source of
the issue but rather it is an abuse of that very nature that results in an unreliable Bull Terrier.

As Stubby's life indicates, he was likely responsible for saving as many (if not more) lives during WWI
than "Pit Bulls" today are said to have taken.